Mrs Banting fought for the return of officers to the station when the area was served by the Metropolitan Police.

The successful campaign was one of the first of its kind and attracted nationwide attention.

As convenor for More Police Molesey (MPM), Hazel was part of the volunteer group manning the station’s front desk and dealing with minor incidents. She has resigned as convenor after many officers stationed at Molesey were transferred to Walton. Hazel still works as a volunteer and consultant for the group.

“I resigned because, after seven years, we have not had a substantial increase of officers on the beat in Molesey,” she told the News & Mail.

“We have a serious problem here. I am very, very worried. Recent increases in crime are a direct result of under-policing. I’m just watching this space,” she said. “There are 27,000 people in Molesey who will riot if the station is closed.

“After all the problems and considering everything we did with MPM, the Molesey people have worked very hard to keep their station open and working. It is a lot more sound than some of their newer buildings.”

She said the police station represented a visible presence and stressed that uniformed officers have better things to do than man kiosks.

“Everybody knows the police station. It is a focal point, a fulcrum, for the community.

“We want police walking about in the community,” she said. “The police officers don’t have to be in the station – that’s just for minor things.

“Here in Molesey they say it is a lovely quiet backwater. It’s not. It is something waiting to get itself out. I have a feeling that if there isn’t a visible police presence, it will start.

“If they can’t put enough police in one station, how are they going to have enough for several? It’s such a pity. I feel very sorry for police officers because I think they are very thorough and dedicated.

“It’s like a mansion selling its silver really. It’s very sad. There probably are some police stations worth closing. I would like them to say where they are though and I don’t think there is going to be that many.”

Ken Purssey, a police volunteer at the Cobham station, was concerned.

“The stations are managed by volunteers so if they were to close are they putting someone in the library?” he asked. “Are they going to put a copper there all the time? How are the public going to be aware of policing?

He added: “If we sell our police station in Cobham where will the money go? Is it just going to go into the business or administration because the site at Cobham is worth a lot of money?”